Arc-lamp.



R; FLEMING.

ARC LAMP. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28, 1905.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

Rf/ector Amy , luminous arc is obtained.

--'not exist in 'a ranged the positive e RICHARD FLEMING, or LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIeNon TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ARC-LAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909,

Application filed December as, 1905. Serial No. 293,590.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD FLEMING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Arc-Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to arc lamps of that type in which the'character of the electrodes employed is such that a flaming or With such electrodes the major portion of the light furnished by the lamp comes directly from the arc itself and not from the electrode tips heated to incandescei ce as is the case with the ordinary arc lamp employing carbon electrodes.

It has been found that in direct current flaming or luminous arclamps no consumption of the positive electrode from the action of the arc is necessary. Otherwise stated, any consumption of the positive electrode occurring is incidentally due to heat oxidation, su plemented perhaps in some instances y a chemical interaction between the electrode and the arc gases and is not necessary to the maintenance of the are.

My present invention consists in features of construction and arrangement of the nonconsuming positive electrode of a luminous orv flaming arc lamp and of the fume box or hood which surrounds the electrode and serves as a conduit for carrying away the gaseous are products which, differing from the are products from a carbon arc, contain considerable amounts of material which does gaseous form at ordinary atmospheric temperatures.

In carrying out my invention I have arectrode so that it may be readil adjusted to compensate for any incidental consumption or deterioration produced in operation and so that while normally in a fixed position it maybe moved therefrom in the feeding operation of the lamp to dislodge material condensed upon it from the are products. The various features of novelty which characterize my'invention are pointedout 'with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of my invention, however, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated somewhat diagrammatically one of the forms in which my invention may be embodied.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a combined. diagram and partial elevation of an arc lamp equipped with my invention; Fig. '2 is an inverted plan of the fume box-showing the positive electrode and its supports; Fig. 3 is an elevation partly broken away and in section showing the construction of one form of positive electrode and fume box; and Fig.4 is a perspective view illustrating adifierent form of electrode.

In the drawings, 1 represents a platform secured in any suitable manner to the arc lamp framework. For instance, the platform 1 may be secured to the lower end of thechimney member 2 forming the backbone of the arc lamp structure as described in an application for patent filed jointly by Cromwell 'A. B. Halvorson, Jr. and myself on the 16th day of November, 1903, Serial No;

181 ,332. To the underside ofthe platform 1 is secured in any suitablemanner a bell or inverted cup-shaped fume-box or hood 3. Preferably the fume box 3 is insulated from' the platform 1. The upper end of the fume box which ;is open communicates with the chimney member 2 of which it may be regarded as an extension. Vertically extending diametrically opposed slots 4 are formed in the member 3 extending from the lower end of the member to the upper end of the cylindrical portion thereof.

The upper and positive electrode 5 comprises a rod or bar like portion 6 formed of copper or other metal having good heat and electrical conductin properties which is sup-, ported in line with t e axis of the members 1 and 2 by means of wing like portions or extensions 7 which project through the slots 4. Each extension 7 in the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 consists of a strap or bar of metal such as copper or brass havin good electric and heat conductivity, and is formed with a semicircular bow portion 7 adjacent one end. As shown, the parts are assembled so that the bow portions uniteto form an annular support in which the rod or bar 6 is clamped. Screws 8 are employed for clamping the two extensions 7 together.

Against the outer surface of the member 3 are secured by screws 9 four meizibers 10 which may be formed of sheet metal and be substantially L-shaped in cross-section. As

shown, the members 10 are secured one at each side of each slot 4 with the side 11 of each member adjacent the corresponding slot extending parallel to the plane including the slots. Registering (pertures 12 are formed in each pair of adjacent members 10 through which cotter pins 13 may be passed. As shown, one pair of cotter pins 13 are employed to support the electrode 5 and another pair of cotter pins 13 are employed to A limit the upward movement of the electrode 5 produced in a manner hereinafter described. The cotter pins 14 which pass through the 6X- tensions 7 serve as stops engaging the outer edges of the member 10 to prevent the rod-like portion 6 from moving out of its axial position with respect to the member 3. reflector 15 may be secured to the lower end of the member 3 in any suitable manner.

In the form of my invention disclosed, the lower electrode 16 may be in the form of a pencil composed of or containing some material giving a flaming or luminous are, such as magnetite, titanium oxid, titanium carbid, or the like. The pencil 16 is supported in a socket formed in an arm 17 carried by the lower end of a tubular member 18. member 18 slides within a member 19 secured to the platform 1 and. slides upon a rod-like member 20. The member 20 is supported from a post 21 carried by the platform -1. A guide 22 carried by the member 18. and engaging the post 21 prevents angular displacement of the member 18. Above the platform 1 the member 18 is surrounded by the yoke members of an upper clutch 23 and a lower clutch 24. The pawl member of the clutch 24 is normally held in position in which the member 18 is locked between it and its cooperating yoke member by means of a long helical spring 25. The movement of the clutch 24 is limited by an adjustable upper stop 26 and a lower stop 27. The pawl member of the clutch 23 is connected to an armature 28. The armature 28 is also connected to a dash-pot 29. The dash-pot 29 is arranged to retard the downward movement of the armature 28 without hindering.

the upward movementof the armature.

In the diagrammatic portion of Fig. 1, 30 represents the positive terminal of the arc lamp and 31 the negative terminal. A conductor 32 connects the terminal 31 to the electrode 16. A conductor 33 connects the terminal 31 to one terminal of the winding 34 cooperating with the armature 28. The other terminal of the winding 34 is connected by a conductor 35 to a contact 36 carried by a movable armature 37. The winding 38 cooperating with the armature 37 is connectedin series between the positive ter-' minal'of the lamp 30 and the electrodeb. A contact member 39 cooperatingwith the contact member 36 is carried by the movable armature 40 of an electromagnet, one ter- A disk-l' :e

The

minal ofthe winding 40 of which is con nected to the conductor 35, and the other terminal of which is connected to the lamp terminal 30 by a conductor 41, and a resistance conductor 42. The contact member 39 isconnected to the conductor 41 by a conductor 43.

In the running position of the lamp, which is that shown in the diagram, the winding 38 whichis in series with the arc betweeir the electrodes, is energized and holds the contact member 36 in a position in which it is normally out of engagement with the contact member 39.

When the lamp is in the out-of-service condition, the contact member 36 drops into engagement with the member 39. When thereafter the lamp terminals 30 and 31 are operatively connected into a supply circuit, current will flow between the terminals 30 and 31 through the resistance 42, conductor 43, contacts 39 and 36, conductor 35, winding 34 and conductor 33. This operatively energizes the. winding 34 and causes the armature 28 to. be elevated. As the armature 28 moves upward the member 18 is moved with it by means of the clutch 23 until the electrode 16 first engages the electrode 5 and then moves it to the position in which it engages the upper cotter pins 13. During the clutch 24 moves with it until the pawl arm bi ths clutch engages the upper stop 26 after which further upward movement of the member 18 takes place without a corresponding movemeptof the clutch24.

As sdona's current begins to flow between the electrodes the. winding 38 becomes operatively energized and attracts the armature 37, thus separating the contact members 36 and 39 whereupon the winding 34 will no longer be operatively energized, the resistance-of the winding 40 being too great to allow passage through it of the energizing current for'the winding v34. The armature 28 ancbthe member 18 will then begin to descend." As soon as the electrode 5 engages the lower pair of cotter pins the electrode 16 will move out of engagement with the electrode 5 thus drawing an ,arc. The downward movement of the member 18 and thereby the length of the are between the electrodes is limited by the engagement of the yoke member of the clutch24 with. the lower stop 27.

After an arc is once drawn it is ordinarily maintained until the lamp is cut out of circuit or until the are voltage is increased beyond a predetermined maximum by reason of the increase of arc length or other-cause. When the voltage increases to the predetermined maximum the current flowing through the winding 40' becomes great enough to attract the armature 40 and move thecontact member 39 into engagement with the contact .member' 36. When this occurs the winding 34 is once more operatively energized and the feeding operation of the lamp is repeated. At each feeding operation of the lamp an arc is struck of afixed length equal to the difference between the play of the clutch 24 between the stops 26 and 27 and the play of the electrode 5 betweenthe upper and lower cotter pins 13.

electrode 16 engages the electrode 5, and

secondly when the electrode '5 enga es the up er cotter in. As a result, soli mate' ria condense from the gaseous are products upon the electrode 5 are dislodged at each feeding operation. This revents a choking up of the member 3 an insures good contact between the electrodes 16 and 5.

While practically speakin the electrode 5, if suitably proportioned an arranged, dissipates heat so rapidly by direct radiation and by conduction to the members 7 and thence to the hood 3 and by radiation from the mem- 30. bers 7 and hood 3 that it is parctically indestructible in the normal .operationof the lamp, yet the arc ng end of the electrode 5 may deteriorate in time from improper operation of the lamp or other cause. The construction shown permits a ready removal of the electrode 5 to permit its arcing ends to be smoothed orfaced off in case it is roughened or otherwise in ured. Moreover, since either end, the ends of the pencil may be reversed when desirable so that the pencil need not be faced off until both ends are roughened or otherwise rendered defective. To reverse the ends of the member 6 it is not necessary to remove the member 6 from its supporting wings since the latter can be reversibly placed in the slots t. To adjust the up and down position of the member 6 in the fume box 3 to compensate for Whatever length of pencil 6 may be employed, it is only necessary a to shift the position of the cotter pins 13 in the holes formed to receive them. By varying the distance between the upper and lower cotter pins 13 the play of the electrode 5 can be adjusted.

Instead of forming the upper and positive electrode of the lamp as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 inclusive, I prefer in some instances to form the electrode and supporting wings of a single integral piece of forged copper 5 or similar metal shown in Fig. t having the same general form as the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

It will of course be understood that in' the lamp as actually constructed suitable means electrodes.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1. As an article of manufacture, an arc lamp electrode formed as a rod'having a number of supporting wings projecting aterally therefrom.

2. As an article of manufacture, an arc lamp electrode formed as a rod having a numberof supporting wings projecting aterally therefrom at right angles to its axis. 3. As an article of manufacture, a reversible arc lamp electrode, formed as a rod having a number of supporting wings projecting laterally therefrom between its ends.

4. As an article of manufacture, a reversii ble arc lamp electrode, formed as a rod with a number of supporting wings projecting laterally therefrom between its ends and at right angles to its axis.

5. As an article of manufacture, a nonconsuming arc lamp electrode, composed of a rod of metal that is a good conductor of heat, and having a number of sup orting wings of like metal with large'heat radiating surfaces, said wings projecting laterally from the rod.

, 6. As an article of manufacture, a nonconsur'ning arc la np electrode, composed of a rod of metal that is a good conductor of heat, and having a number of supportin wings of like metal extending at ri ht angles-to the axis of the rod, said wings having large heat radiating surfaces. end of the pencil 6 may be used as the arcing composed of a rod of metal that is a good con-- duc'tor of heat and having a number of sup- 8. As an article of manufacture, a nonconsuming. reversible arc lamp electrode, composed of a rod of metal that is a good conductor of heat, and having a number of supporting wings of like metal extending laterally therefrom between the ends thereof and at right angles to its axis.

9. In an arc lam the combination of a fume 'box open at bothends, having slots parallel with and on op 'osite sides of its axis, with an electrode rod having supportin wings extending laterally therefrom an loosely into the slots, so as to be movable therein, and stops transversely to the slotsfor sup orting t e electrode. 10. nan arc lamp, the combination of a porting wings of like metal extending laterally therefrom between the ends of the rod.

parallel with and on op osite sides, of its axis,

fume box open at both ends, having slots therein, and stens transversely to the slots for supporting the electrode, and like stone for limiting tne upward movement of tire electrc 11. in an arc lamp, the combination of a fume he); open at both ends and having slots parallel with its axis, with an electrode in axial alinernent with the fume box having wings extending into said slots, and adjustable stops for supporting the electrode, and adgustahle stops for limiting the upward movement of the electrode.

.12. In an arc lamp, the combination of a fume box'open at both ends and terminating below with a cylindrical portion having two diametrically opposite vertical slots opening into the lower edge of the fumebox, with anends second electrode guided and supported in.'said slots,- said second electrode being dis- I connected from the ccntrcllin mechanism but free to have a limited up an down move ment in said slots.

l i. In an arc lamp, a fume box open at both ends and having a cylindrical ortion,

axially extending slots being forrne in said '0 *lindrical portion, ametallic electrode axially su ,portedin said fume box with its arc ing en adjacent one end of theloox, said electrode provided with Wings orextensions extending into said slots, stops or supports for retaining said Wings or extensions in said slots, said stops being arranged to permit a.

respect to the fume box.

15. In anfarc, lamp, a fume box havin slots' fornjiedl in it, a metallic electrode locate in said fume box and provided with wings extending into said slots, and adjustable stops carried by the fume box engaging said Wings In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of December, 1905.

RICHARD FLEMING.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. MOMANUS, Jr., JOHN J. WALKER.

7 4O limited axial movement of the electrode with I 

